The vast majority of women consider egg freezing, more formally known as oocyte cryopreservation, an acceptable way to preserve fertility, according to a groundbreaking new study that was recently presented at the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology’s annual meeting. Some 99 percent of respondents to the study’s anonymous online survey supported the use of egg freezing for medical reasons. Use of the procedure for domestic and social reasons was greeted with nearly the same level of acceptance with 89 percent of respondents okaying the idea of utilizing the procedure to delay childbearing until an individual’s personal circumstances were right. In fact, nearly half of the women who responded reported that they were either considering or interested in the procedure themselves.
Egg freezing, which involves retrieving, freezing and then storing a woman’s eggs for later use, is one of many options available to those concerned about infertility issues. Medical conditions, structural issues, medications, weight and age can all negatively impact a woman’s fertility, creating a situation where she is unable to conceive. While the exact treatment recommended depends on a patient’s particular situation, lifestyle changes, fertility medications, surgery, intrauterine insemination, and in vitro fertilization are commonly recognized treatments that can aid in achieving a pregnancy.
“Women clearly have a strong interest in egg freezing,” says Dr. Shahryar Kavoussi, a highly respected specialist in female infertility who is board certified in both reproductive endocrinology and infertility. “While we still need more long-term data, the experimental label was removed from the procedure by the American Society for Reproductive Medicine in 2012. Thanks to advances in technology, we are seeing greater indications of clinical success. The egg cells survive the thawing process at a higher rate. Fertilization and pregnancy rates have significantly improved as well. All this means that egg freezing is an option to consider with an appropriate candidate.”
As the medical director of Austin Fertility and Reproductive Medicine/Westlake IVF, the nation’s only private fertility center to offer couples care from fellowship trained specialists in male and female infertility, Dr. Kavoussi personally provides a wide range of fertility treatments to his patients, including ovulation induction, intrauterine insemination, and in vitro fertilization. A six-year Patients’ Choice Award recipient, he is also a respected researcher who has written multiple peer-reviewed articles for leading medical journals.
If you are interested in a personal infertility consultation with Dr. Kavoussi, contact Austin Fertility and Reproductive Medicine/Westlake IVF at (512) 444-1414.